Swivelly mounted tailpipe for the jet device of a yarn bulking apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a bulking apparatus for crimping thermoplastic continuous filament yarn a bulking jet device is provided with a swivelly mounted tailpipe through which yarn in crimp receptive condition is delivered from the jet device to a continuously forming porous plug of such yarn within the groove of a rotating wheel. The delivery end of the tailpipe rides within and on the bottom surface of the groove, and the swivel connection enables the tailpipe to adapt to wheel wobble and any eccentricity of the wheel.

United States Patent [191 Smith et a1.

[ June 18, 1974 SWIVELLY MOUNTED TAILPIPE FOR THE JET DEVICE OF A YARN BULKING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Glen C. Smith, Kingsport, Tenn;

Carson E. Williams, Gate City, Va.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, NY.

[22] Filed: July 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 272,536

[52] US. Cl. 28/l.4

[51] Int. Cl D02g l/16 [58] Field of Search 28/13, 1.4, 1.6, 72.11, 28/7212, 72.14; 239/587 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,047,239 7/1962 Canavan 239/587 X 3,438,101 4/1969 Le'Noir et a]. 28/1.6

Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Malcolm G. Dunn [57] ABSTRACT In a bulking apparatus for crimping thermoplastic continuous filament yarn a bulking jet device is provided with a swivelly mounted tailpipe through which yarn in crimp receptive condition is delivered from the jet device to a continuously forming porous plug of such yarn within the groove of a rotating wheel. The delivery end of the tailpipe rides within and on the bottom surface of the groove, and the swivel connection enables the tailpipe to adapt to wheel wobble and any eccentricity of the wheel.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SWIVELLY MOUNTED TAILPIPE FOR THE JET DEVICE OF A YARN BULKING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a bulking jet apparatus for forming crimp in yarns of continuous length filaments of man-made materials.

It is well known in the textile art that crimping of textile yarns will increase the bulkiness of the yarn and hence its covering ability in the final product. Such covering ability is significantly improved when the bends of an individual fiber extend radially in all directions. In other words, when viewed along the center line of the fiber the fiber crimp is of a threedimensional character. Different processes have been devised by which three-dimensional crimp is imparted to synthetic or man-made fibers of polyesters, polyamides, polyacrylonitriles and other thermoplastic materials. Most of these processes include the step of elevating the temperature of the fibers above their secondorder transition temperature to a crimp receptive condition in a heated environment. The success or failure of all such processes depend upon the control exercised in the practice. Such control is essential for obtaining uniformity of crimp, uniform dye-acceptance, and minimal fiber damage resulting in a reduction of tensile strength. Such control is also essential for other factors known in the textile industry to be desirable characteristics in producing quality fabrics, carpets and the like.

Many of these processes rely upon fluid-jet technology wherein compressible fluids may be used, such as are generally known for use in jet-crimping or texturizing processes. One such compressible fluid usually employed is steam. Another compressible fluid that has also been used is air.

The patent art includes a number of patents disclosing processes for bulking continuous filamentary yarns by fluid-jet technology. Some examples of such patent art are U.S. Pat. No. 2,783,609 to Breen; U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,155 to Breen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,611 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,911 to Nechvatal et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,156,028 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,255,508 to Weiss et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,438,101 to Lenoir et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,409,956 to Longbottom et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,240 to Parmeggiani et al. One characteristic appearing in common in these patents is the use of a heated compressible fluid (steam) to carry and propel the yarn through the bulking jet device. At the same time the heated fluid also raises the temperature of the yarn above its second-order transition temperature but below its melting or degradation temperature. The individual filaments are thus plasticized and rendered into a crimp receptive condition.

Some patent art disclose bulking jet devices propel ling crimp receptive yarn against a plug of previously advanced yarn. The yarn usually remains in plug form until sufficiently cool to be removed without taking out the crimp.

An apparatus considered by us for forming a plug of yarn concerns use of a bulking jet device with a rotating wheel having a groove within its periphery. The jet device rendersthe yarn into crimp receptive condition and propels the plasticized yarn into the groove of the wheel. The yarn is formed into a porous plug by being confined within the grooved wheel. The crimp receptive yarn is hurled at high speed against the face of the porous plug where it is deposited in a tension free manner. The individual filaments collapse or fold endwise in random manner against the face of the plug in conformity with and against the previously hurled randomly collapsed individual filaments. The groove of the wheel is provided with a screened surface, preferably at the bottom, through which a vacuum is pulled to cool the porous plug. It is essential, as previously mentioned, that the yarn plug be cooled, usually below the second-order transition temperature before any tension is applied in removing the yarn. Thus by the time the plug moves with the rotating wheel to the take-off point it must have cooled to this extent. For this reason the wheel is generally of large diameter to allow for more cooling time.

The wheel is preferably made of a high heat withstanding metal, such as stainless steel. Since heat dissipates rather slowly from stainless steel the wheel is fabricated from thin sections of this metal to aid such dissipation. The large diametered wheel tends to wobble as it rotates, thereby causing wear of the tailpipe that delivers the yam from the bulking jet device to the wheel. The tailpipe at its yarn delivery end must fit closely and ride within the groove of the wheel. The tailpipe not only delivers yarn to the porous plug being formed in the wheel groove but also steam at high temperature. Such steam tends to aggravate the wheel wobble by causing some warpage of the thin metal sections. It is very difficult under these circumstances to fabricate a wheel that will rotate perfectly true. The wear of the delivery end of the connecting tailpipe causes undesirable steam leakage and the escape of some of the yarn filaments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention solves these problems by providing a tailpipe that isswivelly connected to the bulking jet device. The bulking jet device has a ball-shaped recess at its jet passageway outlet for receiving the cooperating ballshaped portion of the tailpipe. The delivery end of the tailpipe as thus connected rides or freely floats within the wheel groove upon the screened bottom surface. The free floating action allows for wheel wobble and any eccentricity of the wheel.

In the manner constructed a bulking jet device and its swivelly connected tailpipe can readily be removed and another installed with a minimum of difficulty. During the course of long operation the steam has a corrosive effect on the jet passageway, causing a change in the desired flow characteristics. This is one reason why it would be desirable to be able to readily replace the bulking jet device and its tailpipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is an elevational view of the bulking apparatus showing the bulking jet device in cross-section, the grooved wheel with portions broken away, and a swivelly connected tailpipe; and

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 but showing only a portion of the grooved wheel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In reference to the drawings, the bulking apparatus is shown in general at 10. The grooved wheel 12, preferably formed of stainless steel, is provided within its periphery with a groove 14. The housing of the bulking jet device 16 has a jet passageway 18, a yarn inlet passageway 20 and a swivelly mounted tailpipe 22 connected at the outlet of the jet passageway.

To assist in the formation of the porous yarn plug 24 within the wheel groove 14, a plug former 26 is positioned above the groove adjacent the delivery end of the tailpipe 22. The plug former may be made of any suitable material such as TEFLON or a glass reinforced TEFLON material. The plug former is resiliently held in position against the wheel groove by bracket member 28 and its spring plungers 30.

The bulking jet device 16 is provided at the outlet end of the jet passageway 18 with a ball-shaped recess 32 adapted for receiving the ball-shaped end portion 34 of the tailpipe 22. The tailpipe is preferably formed of a softer metal than the metal of the wheel and the jet device. It is preferable that the tailpipe wear rather than the more expensive-formed wheel and jet device. A suitable material found useful under these circumstances is brass. The delivery end of the tailpipe has a rectangular guide portion 36 that cooperatingly interfits within the wheel groove 14 and rides upon the screened surface 38. The rectangular guide portion is held within the wheel groove by adjustable screw 40 extending from the bracket member 28. The adjustable screw enables the jet device to be readily disconnected from the wheel. It also serves to prevent the tailpipe from moving upwardly from its adjusted position within the wheel groove against the screened surface thus preventing undesirable tails from being formed in the yarn plug. It does allow by adjustment, however, some latitude of upward movement to compensate for any eccentricity of the wheel. The angular position of the tailpipe with respect to the yarn plug is critical from the standpoint of control; such criticality, however, is not the subject of this invention.

In reference to FIG. 2, the bottom of the wheel groove 14 is perforated, and is preferably formed of a band of screen-like material. It has thus been described above as a screened surface 38. As mentioned previously, the use of a screened surface makes it possible for a vacuum to be pulled through the wheel for cooling the porous plug of yarn.

In operation the yarn 42 enters the bulking jet device 16 through the yarn inlet passageway 20. It is then carried by the compressible fluid (steam) through the jet passageway 18. The compressible fluid or steam propels the yarn through the swivelly connected tailpipe 22 and against the face of the porous yarn plug 24 that is continuously forming within the wheel groove 14. The yarn plug is carried along with the rotating grooved wheel 12 while the porous plug is cooling. When the plug reaches the takeoff point 44 the yarn is peeled from the face of the plug and passes over yarn guide 46 for subsequent handling as by a winding device (not shown).

The tailpipe 22, as it becomes worn, can readily be replaced since its ball-shaped end portion 34 is held within the ball-shaped recess 32 by a removable retaining member 48. The retaining member may be suitably held in position by screws (not shown).

While the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

ll. In a bulking apparatus for texturing thermoplastic continuous filament yarn by means of a compressible fluid means and including a bulking jet device through which the compressible fluid means conveys the yarn and a rotable wheel defining a groove within its periphery for receiving yarn from the bulking jet device, the improvement comprising a tailpipe swivelly connected at one end to the bulking jet device and having at its other end a guide portion for cooperatingly interfltting within and riding within the groove of the rotatable wheel, the tailpipe defining a conduit between the jet device and the rotatable wheel through which the compressible fluid means conveys the yarn from the jet device to the groove of the wheel.

2. In a bulking apparatus as defined in claim I, and wherein said bulking jet device comprises a housing defining passageway means through which the compressible fluid means and yarn travel and a ball-shaped recess at the outlet of the passageway means for the compressible fluid means and yarn, and said tailpipe has a ball-shaped portion at said one end adapted to seat within the ball-shaped recess and thereby swivelly connect the tailpipe to the housing of the jet device. 

1. In a bulking apparatus for texturing thermoplastic continuous filament yarn by means of a compressible fluid means and including a bulking jet device through which the compressible fluid means conveys the yarn and a rotable wheel defining a groove within its periphery for receiving yarn from the bulking jet device, the improvement comprising a tailpipe swivelly connected at one end to the bulking jet device and having at its other end a guide portion for cooperatingly interfitting within and riding within the groove of the rotatable wheel, the tailpipe defining a conduit between the jet device and the rotatable wheel through which the compressible fluid means conveys the yarn from the jet device to the groove of the wheel.
 2. In a bulking apparatus as defined in claim 1, and wherein said bulking jet device comprises a housing defining passageway means through which the compressible fluid means and yarn travel and a ball-shaped recess at the outlet of the passageway means for the compressible fluid means and yarn, and said tailpipe has a ball-shaped portion at said one end adapted to seat within the ball-shaped recess and thereby swivelly connect the tailpipe to the housing of the jet device. 